M.E.N Comment: Long shadow over achievement

TONY Blair today begins his long-anticipated ¿departure from office. It will trigger the public ¿appraisal of the New Labour years - a period of government which will influence the political landscape for years to come. In formally announcing that he is stepping down as Labour leader, Mr Blair will begin a contest that will see him quit as prime minister within weeks.

TONY Blair today begins his long-anticipated departure from office. It will trigger the public appraisal of the New Labour years - a period of government which will influence the political landscape for years to come.

In formally announcing that he is stepping down as Labour leader, Mr Blair will begin a contest that will see him quit as prime minister within weeks.

Nothing is certain when it comes to party politics but it would appear that Gordon Brown will be the man who takes the baton from him.

Whoever fights New Labour’s next election ¿campaign will do so against David Cameron’s newly-invigorated Conservatives, a party which has only just shown its capabilities at the local government elections for England and Wales.

Mr Blair will no longer be in power and is expected to retire entirely from politics. But the question of the retiring prime minister’s legacy will be forefront of voters’ minds for years. On the face of it, his legacy is one of more debits than credits.

He leaves behind almost a decade of economic growth, with low unemployment and a record ¿number of people in work.

Inflation remains under control and interest rates remain at levels which are relatively low in historical terms. Millions have been spent on new hospitals, school examination results are much improved and there are more police officers on the streets.

A bold ban on smoking in public places will come into force on July 1 and millions of people have ¿escaped exploitation since the introduction of the minimum wage.

Tony Blair’s part in the Northern Ireland peace process was highlighted at the historic ceremony this week to mark a return to power-sharing in Northern ¿Ireland.

This was Blair at his statesman-like best, a¿ politician of true global stature. Even so, New Labour remains tarnished by spin. And it is clear that Mr Blair’s lasting legacy will be one which began in an ill-advised spin campaign and ended with the invasion of Iraq.

A war which did not have the popular support of the people was waged on the strength of innacurate intelligence designed to drive fear into the hearts of the general public.

A conflict which has already cost the lives of ¿thousands of innocents looks certain to continue long after Tony Blair has walked away from Downing Street.